Method and device for biofouling prevention on vessels by means of UV radiation and surface modification

Abstract

The invention provides an object ( 10 ), that during use is at least partly submerged in water, wherein the object ( 100 ) is selected from the group consisting of a vessel ( 1 ) and an infrastructural object ( 15 ), the object ( 10 ) further comprising an anti-biofouling system ( 200 ) comprising an UV emitting element ( 210 ), wherein the UV emitting element ( 210 ) is configured to irradiate with UV radiation ( 221 ) during an irradiation stage one or more of (i) a first part ( 111 ) of an external surface ( 11 ) of said object ( 10 ) and (ii) water adjacent to said first part ( 111 ) of said external surface ( 11 ) of said object ( 10 ), wherein the object ( 10 ) further comprises protruding elements ( 100 ) with the UV emitting element ( 210 ) configured between the protruding elements ( 100 ) and configured depressed relative to the protruding elements ( 100 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of protecting an object against biofouling, the method comprising:
 providing an anti-biofouling system, the anti-biofouling system comprising an UV emitting element; 
 providing protruding elements to the object,
 wherein the UV emitting element is configured between the protruding elements, 
 wherein the UV emitting element is configured depressed relative to the protruding elements; 
 
 irradiating with the UV emitting element one or more of a portion of an external surface of the object and water adjacent to the portion of the external surface of the object. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the external surface comprises the protruding elements. 
     
     
       3. An anti-biofouling system comprising an UV emitting unit comprising a surface profile,
 wherein the surface profile comprises at least one protruding element; and 
 an optical medium, wherein the optical medium is configured to provide UV radiation from a light source to a radiation escape surface of the optical medium, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured depressed relative to the at least one protruding element. 
 
     
     
       4. An anti-biofouling system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the optical medium is configured between the at least one protruding element, 
 wherein the optical medium comprises one or more of the light sources, 
 wherein the one or more light sources comprise solid state light sources, 
 wherein the optical medium comprises silicone as waveguide material, 
 wherein the surface profile and protruding elements comprise steel. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for providing an anti-biofouling system in the form of UV emitting unit to an object comprising:
 attaching anti-biofouling system to the external surface of the object, wherein the anti-biofouling system comprises:
 a surface profile comprising protruding elements; and 
 an optical medium, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured between the protruding elements, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured depressed relative to the protruding elements. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the UV emitting element comprises an optical medium, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured to provide the UV radiation of a light source to the one or more of the portion of the external surface of the object and water adjacent to the portion of the external surface of the object, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured between the protruding elements, 
 wherein the optical medium is configured depressed relative to the protruding elements. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the optical medium comprises one or more of the light sources, 
 wherein the one or more light sources comprise solid state light sources, 
 wherein the optical medium comprises silicone. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the external surface comprises the protruding elements. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the object comprises a surface profile, 
 wherein the surface profile comprises the protruding elements, 
 wherein the surface profile is attached to the external surface, 
 wherein the anti-biofouling system comprises the protruding elements. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the object comprises a UV emitting unit, 
 wherein the UV emitting unit comprises the surface profile and an optical medium, 
 wherein the surface profile is attached to the external surface.